Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions Inc. v. McDonald's Corp.

Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions Inc. v. McDonald's Corp. was a landmark copyright case in the United States that addressed the issue of intellectual property infringement in the context of television and advertising. The case was decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1977.

Background

Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions Inc. were well-known for their creation of the popular children's television show H.R. Pufnstuf. The show featured a unique and distinctive set of characters and settings, which were central to the case. McDonald's Corporation, a major fast-food chain, launched an advertising campaign featuring characters and settings that bore a striking resemblance to those in H.R. Pufnstuf.

Legal Issues

The primary legal issue in the case was whether McDonald's Corporation had infringed on the copyright of Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions Inc. by using similar characters and settings in their advertising campaign. The court had to determine if there was substantial similarity between the two works and if McDonald's Corporation had access to the original work.

Court's Decision

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions Inc., finding that McDonald's Corporation had indeed infringed on their copyright. The court applied the "extrinsic-intrinsic" test to determine substantial similarity. The "extrinsic" test involved an objective comparison of specific expressive elements, while the "intrinsic" test involved a subjective comparison of the overall look and feel of the works.

Impact

The decision in Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions Inc. v. McDonald's Corp. had a significant impact on copyright law in the United States, particularly in the realm of television and advertising. It reinforced the protection of creative works and set a precedent for how courts would handle cases involving substantial similarity and access.

See Also

• Copyright
• Intellectual property
• H.R. Pufnstuf
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Advertising